DESIGN AND INTERIORS MAKING AN IMPACT
Impact Hub London discusses how workplace design and interiors has been at the forefront of its thinking as the company launches its new hub in London Euston at Regents Place in Spring 2024, and how, as a social enterprise, helping under-served communities and focusing on people and planet, the right aesthetic will always be achieved by balance.
Sustainability at its core Good workspace design starts with the building, and our new location is a partnership between our social enterprise, the Knowledge Quarter and British Land. 1 Triton Square exemplifies Total Architecture, where the multi-disciplinary team has challenged the status quo to deliver an environmentally responsible, socially active building. It received Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) Outstanding, reflecting a firm focus on sustainability. Its refurbishment has saved time, money and carbon emissions, which chimes with our principles.
Making use of codesign Codesign is at the heart of Impact Hub London’s design philosophy and is also a value and principle shared with London’s Knowledge Quarter. So, it’s been a crucial part of delivering a successful design for Regent’s Place. Engaging our members, The Knowledge Quarter members, the local community and wider stakeholders to help us collaboratively design the space delivered insights that practically informed its design. It’s also energised our networks, giving them a connection and sense of ownership.
"By renting good quality furniture we’re helping to support a circular economy that favours activities preserving energy, labour and materials."
Through a series of workshops in the space, facilitated by our architects, we encouraged people to imagine what can happen there and how the requirements of the space can best be met through the design. We’ve incorporated many of the features – such as circular materials, breakout spaces and easy access to green spaces.
A focus on materials We’ve set out some clear guidelines when sourcing materials for our workspaces. They include:
• Maximising natural materials or those that use embedded carbon.
• Maximising circular materials, reused or recycled, or at least able to be.
• Using materials sourced from suppliers that meet high social and environmental standards, such as social enterprises and Living Wage certified businesses.
Implementing furniture rental The furniture in Impact Hub London Euston will be rented from EFG, a leading sustainable furniture supplier, and will serve as a living showroom for its Scandinavian- inspired designs. By renting good quality furniture we’re helping to support a circular economy that favours activities preserving energy, labour and materials. Over 22m pieces of furniture are discarded each year in the UK, and it takes 1,000 times more CO2 to produce new furniture instead of recycling or refurbishing. A rental scheme means that it can be put back to use, and its quality will be vastly superior.
Accessibility and inclusion Inclusion is embedded within our design and we aim to support accessibility for all users, including wheelchair users, the deaf, blind, partially-sighted and people with autism, amongst others. Considerations include lighting choices, use of braille, having a range of different spaces to access and step-free spaces. As a key part of our ethos, we also offer free and discounted memberships to those from under-served local communities.
A range of working options We know from running our London King’s Cross location for 15 years that the most useful flexible space for members includes a range of working areas. This has never been truer than post-Covid, where workspaces have gone through a transformation and hybrid has become the norm. Therefore, we plan for co-working areas and team desks. We also have micro-offices, for small businesses for teams from six to 12 people who want their own space and more privacy.
Impact Hub London Euston will balance the unique needs of our community, through our focus on creating an environment that nurtures creativity, collaboration, and productivity, with responsible and sustainable design.
https://london.impacthub.net
48 | TOMORROW’S FM
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